PELHAM — The Kestrel Land Trust will establish two new woodland conservation areas in three Hampshire County communities next year, preserving 128 acres of land that’s home to critical habitat for a variety of plants and wildlife.
One area is located in Pelham, and the other in Williamsburg and Hatfield. In addition to wildlife and plant protection, the new areas will provide opportunities for outdoor recreation like hiking and cross-country skiing, Kestrel officials said.
The towns of Williamsburg and Hatfield, together with Kestrel and the Open Space Institute, received $163,000 in grants from the Massachusetts Local Acquistions for Natural Diversity, or LAND, program, to conserve 128 acres on Horse Mountain, a iconic landmark that separates the two towns.
This area consists of steep forested uplands and lower wetlands, which provide an excellent diversity of wildlife habitat. The topography in the region also helps make the area resilient to the impacts of a changing climate, said Kat Deely, Kestrel’s community conservation manager.
“We look to protect lands that can offer the best possible refuge for wildlife and plants under extreme changes in climate and the environment,” Deely said.
She said the Trust utilizes “resiliency data” compiled by the Nature Conservancy of Northampton to rate areas for potential conservation protection. Both the Williamsburg/Hatfield project and the Pelham project rated above average on the resiliency scale.
The Cole family, formerly of Williamsburg, has owned the Horse Mountain property for decades, and has managed the forest to maintain its high-quality habitat.
This land is critical for animals like black bears and bobcats that require large ranges of undeveloped land, as it can provide connections to hundreds of acres of other conserved lands.
“This is a beautiful area that has been extremely well managed by the landowner,” Deely said. “He had a sustainable management plan in place and also did a fair amount to counter invasive species.”
In addition to working closely with the landowner, Deely said the Trust worked with the open space committees, conservation commissions, and trail committees in both towns to develop the conservation plans.
Kestrel also received $85,000 from the Massachusetts Conservation Partnership Program to protect 52 acres on the east side of Arnold Road in Pelham.
This parcel is at high risk of development due to the iconic westerly vistas over the Pioneer Valley towards the Connecticut River. It is also of critical importance, as it is an unprotected swath of land situated amid abutting conservation areas.
The land consists of oak and hickory upland forest and a well-developed wetland in the southern half of the property. The area is home to white tail deer, wild turkey and other game species and is core habitat for several endangered species including the eastern box turtle.
Kestrel has been working on this project for a while, and Deely says that the acquisition of the property will connect the surrounding conservation areas, making one large protected area for plants and wildlife.